New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-12
HIS CHANCES OF A SECOND TERM
THE RECORD MR.. CLEVELAND HAS MADE.
POLITICAL SINS OF OMISSION AND COMMISSION !
THAT WILL HURT HIN.

| WASHINGTON NAV 1O-There 10 a sketch identified
with the works of Thomas Hood representing circus
horse galoping along carrying upon his back corpent
rider standing erect The two are approaching spot
over which hangs a very small ring through which the
rider is expected pass and his former perpen-
| dicular position on the horse. IL Is clearly an
| impossible feat. Either the ring must burst
or the performer must stick fast win an
expression Of despair he looks at the ring dans-
ling in the air In front of him and excaims as ne con
templates his fate "I wish was well through IT, Inc
likeness which the rider bears to Mr. Cleveland as the
latter probably would appear in undress circus
almost to suggest prophetic inspiration II the SIM
lie is applied to political affairs. Mr. Cleveland
passed through very small hole in 1884, but then ne
was politically very small man. In certain sense ne
had been in training the task He had not gorged him
self upon the pap OF sefconcet few little bells tnkcd
at his grth just sufficiently audible to announce the
presence OF the champion but beyond this he was IN no
wise Handicapped. He sleek and in toleraby Good
form.
But he forth expansive with rehabilitation
and covered with swollen Jumps and bruises resulting
the pelngs he has received at the hands OF dssa
sed witnesses of his performances In his bclt ne car
res trophies but they arc OF kind that weigh him down
as they OF lead Yet the hole was even smaller III
1884 than to-day Then II wns confined to the limits
of a mere polling place Manhattan Island Now it has
been enlarged by Mr.. George william Curtis acting as
chief trainer embrace the diameter OF radius
within twenty miles OF NewYorh City" But even with
this advantage the performer droops his knees quake
he signs almost hopeessy his wishes that he was well
through IT, and his hackers are appalled, when 'hey con
| template the inevitable impossibity OF success
When within year Of the time for choosing National
standard bearer, Democratic Senators and Representa-
tlves refer to their President that man In the White
House, there is harsh accent Of reproach accompany
ing the utterance which Is unmisakable Washington Is
proverbally pleasant abiding place in the spring time
| L.. ham
and thirsty look dsconsolatey upon the empty racks
knowing that the granares well stored Their nos
trls inhae the appetizng odors OF political BROTH but
the troughs licked out and empty and In their uh-
wholesome appearance bear evidence OF the scramble
which has been going for more than two years whh
them Mortas with stomachs cannot live without EN-
ner il the paintve cry that goes up These poor De-
nghted creatures looked forward to smooth pathway
covered with cloth Of gold but find themselves adrft and
struggling weakly along the toughest kind OF cord-
roy They curse with equal feryency the Republican Con
gress that enacted the Civil Service reform measure ana
the Democratic President whO though he has repeatedly
violated IT, dares not to follow his real instincts and tres
pass too far upon the realm OF public opinion The wiser
heads describe the Civil Service reform law as Repub-
can coat of many cOlors of attractive brancy but OF
extremely delicate and yielding fbre ana they assert
that Mr. Cleveland compelled to don 1t against MS
will a. part OF the paraphernalia or his ONCE ihey
recognize obvious fact that it is mist and that he
|
appointed ones denounce him for summing himself In Dor
rowed plumage while posing as reformcr under the
single term banner and forgetful always OF those VINO
| rendered even that &" single term " possible
But even In this he is insncere Mr. Cleveland loves
power with all the tenderness which young lover be-
slows upon his sweetheart He accepted 1t originally
with becoming modesty and with bashful declaration
that he would allow only much after the manner
I'm which that same sweetheart might receive thefrstrea
passionate kiss But he has grown used to IL and IKE
her also he has grown insaate Perhaps this Is only
natural But though stimulated by the hope that he may
be again chosen he not unmndful of the weights thai
will be imposed upon him, by his own party In tl'
race years have gone by and they have yielded III
tie else than bunged prentice work on the part OF th'
chief builder Bad appointments, Inconsistency OF acton
the absurd and petty exercise of the veto power the un
se opproval OF unjustlnable legislation, and MONACO
ton with respect TO that was wholesome nave 10
ether resulted in alternating certain elements OF support
which are Indispensable to his success. Furthermore
the marty he represents is also responsible for many
the embarrassyents from which Pie individually suffers
Tho mutterngs may be premature but here in Washing
ton they are beginning be heard with frequency and
depth against the Interstate Commerce law. It'll de
,ounccd nv Democrats and many OF their Southern
as the epome Of the worst form OF Capitalization
nover and hence thoroughly nemocratic in principle
Whether good for bad its passage must be cred
tied IN the persistent efforts Reagan, himself
migratory demagOgue the sefappoined apostle OF Dem
ocrtc doctrine aud special guardian OF the Constitution
aainst which he for four years engaged in active
bloody rebellion 1t is true that the b! as passed was
not the original Reagan bill That proposed measure was
such a stumbling congomeration OF demagogieal Ideas
that it could not be enacted into law But popular
Iamor had been raised and legislative action Of some
sor was apparently necessary hence the Cu0m bill wa
framed and accepted the best OF evils But the veto
his party will have bear large share of responsibility
! for whatever hardship may ensue TO the people II
cecdcd in ENGRAVING the central idea OF his Immediate
though limited constituency upon the fedeisi statute
United states Senate for six years at the end OF which
time will, II he lives have reached the age OF seventy
five without hope of greatly extended period OF puDhc
nhcr circumstance which must work inevitably Ia
the of both Cleveland and his party
bis failure 10 approve the River and Harbor bill These
oasures arc often obnoxious In many of their mscel
aneos features but they always contain appropriations
for improvements OF undoubted general Naue III lle
hil which recently failed provision was maze TOT wok'
which would have conferred many benefits upon The
southern people His course In refuslnS 10 slgh te p
regarded by his party friends as dqe 10 Sss
the country. Work must be discontinued upon Improve
nnnseonent damage must ensue is hardly to be
Assumed that Cleveland has resolved TO withhold hs
IN I'm This single instance excited Just criticism and
aroused gonsm which he cannot ran 20 leeI te
ne refused TO sign the bill this year. with the promise tc
himself that he would approve like measure next year
he erred in political sagacity He must ndlunhny pe
the burden OF the atfront he has already Inflicted
But next year the requirements and demands
In This direction will be greatly increased Some KIND o.
River and Harbor bill must be passed ana II mus
necessarily be larger than the one which ne pocketeH
will he the of Congress Immediately preceding
Presidential election. His party must bear the criticism
of an apparently excessive appropriation rms ate
fact was pointed ont him by shrewd Democrat IL
said as an argument why he should sign TINS olI mas
nuch ns next wear could withhold his approval WIFI
some show OF reason and without damage to his party
nut with his accustomed obstnacy the President rJecee
This morse OF wholesome advice and left his friends
avert their faces that they might conceal from MIN the
disIst for his nj gheadedness and bumpuous leadership
His attitude With respect 10 pensions and his freqen
slurs upon Union soldiers so often found IN the sly
smart language OF his veto messages VIII also opcrht,
against him Within the ranks OF his own party some o.
M ausons to the unfortunate applicants whose claims
after nossnr the ordeal OF both the House ana Tue
senate he ppany brushed aside by the exercise OF tht
veto power win prove admirable legends for tue adorn
ent OF potical banners and ransparences Exsoiders
and thor widows may be able TO boar patiently tho ds
appointment growing out OF Ieasohano r1ecuon y
nersonal Insults at the hands OF the National Executive